How many hours can you work while studying?

[Raas4555]

I really need to know this: How many hours do you spend in school in your first and second year? When I look at the course titles and the credit hours in any program - it seems very manageable. I have a flexible job and I can study at work sometimes (Sundays especially), but I will most likely need to keep 40 hours a week.

Can I get my ADN (or possibly even the whole BSN depending which way I go) while working or is that impossible?

Thanks!

[tonyal]

I think that totally depends on you. I have worked almost full time during my prereq's and have been fine, but when it comes time for the actual nursing classes I will cut back to about nothing. Others I know have had a hard time working part time during prereq's. So it all depends on how you work under pressure and what you can handle.

[shannonmarie7]

I worked full time and went to school part time doing all my non-science classes with no problem. Then I decided to go 13 class hours and started the science classes and it became to much with taking care of my family also, so I ended up not working right now. I would try to work and if it becomes to hard to do both adjust as needed.

[Proverbs 16:3]

I worked full time during during nursing school. Durng my most stressful quarter, i cut down to working 60hours in a payperiod, 3 12s one week and 2 12s the next. I do overtime during midterm week but i had to work myself like that because i didn't want to take out loans.

There are a few weekends i called out when i had a huge test the upcoming week.

For me, it worked, i was able to maintain good grades while working like a fool (there were a a good number times i'd be pooled for a one to one so i ended up sitting and studying, plus i worked night shift so after 11p vitals and everything, patient gets to sleep and i only get up when the call bell rings or the tele alarm beeps. it makes me love the nights when i get pooled to the rehab unit because they don't have tele alarms going off all night).

Some of my friends had to quit and i think it totally depends on you. The beginning part of nursing school is crazy and juggling hanging out with friends, school and work can be crazy but it's either you have to find a way to handle it. You may have to cut back on certain things

Nursing school isn't easy so if working is gonna affect your grades, i say, it's better to graduate when you have to instead of retaking classes, taking semesters off because the class you have to repeat isn't offered and graduating 2years after your real date. There are some people who started school before me and i've passed through the program and graduated and they have yet to graduate.

I say start out, see what you can handle and go from there. Discipline and time management is a good characteristic to possess.

all the best

[meme2201]

Thank you for asking this question and to everyone who has replied. I was wondering this same thing myself. I need to start working to help make ends meet and was concerned about the same things. I'm glad to know that with the right mindset it IS possible to accomplish!